More than 50 people living around the villages of Vaiusu and Vaigaga in Apia were able to access a free health check for kidney diseases, diabetes and blood pressure.

The medical screening was organized by the Apia Lions Club in collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation (N.K.F.) and was done on Saturday in the Apia villages. 

Apia Lions Club first-vice-president, Tuifuisaa Maka Sapolu, told the Samoa Observer that the one-day event was a success with over 50 people turning up to use the free service. 

“It has been a successful event, due to a large number turnout of more than 50 people, comprised of mostly those aged 40 plus. 

"Our members mainly assist in whatever we can do to help the N.K.F. in carrying out their work, because we are not doctors or nurses but in the Lions our motto is to serve.

"This is the fourth medical screening we have carried out, we have already covered Sapunaoa, Lotofaga and Vaiala and the selection of villages is from the members' village," he said.

Tuifuisaa said a lot of Samoans have lately become health conscious and it is important that everyone gets to know the state of their health.

“We all want to be healthy and live longer, at the moment Samoa is health conscience, many locals are going for hikes up Mt. Vaea or walks on the seawall, or zumpa and it is very important to know ourselves.

“The N.K.F. is here specializing in health screening so they are doing, urinal tests to check the kidneys, blood pressure tests, diabetes, height and weight checks,” he added.

The procedure for the one-day health check was that after the tests are done and the results given, the member of the public sits down with a N.K.F. member to discuss the results. 

“From the data collected from previous health checks it showcased both healthy and unhealthy people.

“And so for the unhealthy people they were advised by the medical professionals on what they should do to become healthy especially with the right and balanced type of food to consume.

“We have given away walking canes and crutches of a total of six so far during medical screenings which was donated by our lions overseas within our Lions Clubs International,” he added.

Being from Vaiala, Tuifuisaa said they are currently in talks with an optometrist to do eye tests but those discussions are still in the pipeline.

“Our club was established 30 years ago and at the moment we are comprised of 32 members locally – we do environmental charitable work, and also health medical screening which we collaborate with N.K.F.

“We do charitable work during our free time; we are not a funded organization so we fundraise to conduct any of our charitable work like barbecues and raffles.

“We also award monetary donations to N.K.F. for their services worth $200."